Long Time Since Last Post

It's been several years since I've posted something new on this site. So many, that I almost forgot I set this up. There have been several changes since the last time I posted. I've changed employers two times, started my own business on the side (which I highly encourage you to visit my website www.midgleyelectric.com), and I'm currently going back to school for an associates degree in electro-mechanical engineering. If you have any topics that you would like to discuss, please drop me a message and I'll concider your request.

Why are copper prices so high?

I still can't get over how much copper prices have risen in the last year. It makes it impossible as an estimator to garuantee a bid for more than two days. And it's not just copper that's going up, but aluminum and zink (the most common metal in die cast fittings). Steel prices are also affecting the general contractors, therefore making the customers more liery of even starting a project. I've noticed that in the last few days, copper has actually leveled out a little. Now, whether this trend can continue or not is hard to say. In an artical writen by the AP, most of the demand is comming from China, but now a rise in damand is coming from Europe and Japan. Other factors include large strikes and equipment failiers.
The price of base metals isn't the only thing that's increasing. Theft on jobsites and vacant homes has risen since the return for scrap has reached levels that make you blink your eyes a few times when you hear it. The Union electrical contractors in my area have put names of all thier employees in with all the scrap yards to prevent any wire thefts. The worst part about the whole situation is that there is nothing, as electrical contractors, that we can do. I've seen a few contractors in our city fold due to the sudden increases of prices and decreasing of projects.

Residential Load Calculator

Here's a helpfull tool for anyone who has to ever do a load calculation on a house. It also includes wire sizing info.
Residential Load Calculator